Gripper mechanism



Juli 3, 1928 1,675,592

GRIPP Filed April 1926 improved gripper mechanism including a Patented July 3, 1928.

t, UNITED T TES PATENT OFFI E, I

JOSEPH R. BLAINE, or OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, s ssraivoa' TO HIEHLE rnrn'rrne rmiss & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01" ILLIQ Application nia April 12,

gripper mechaf -Another objectis to provide gripper mechanism in which there is no relative movement between the ripping surfaces of the gripper members after the sheet is en gaged thereby, for the purpose of maintaining the proper position of the sheetorto prevent moving the engaged sheet out of register. a j V These and other objectsare accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which-,-

Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view of my plurality of gripper members and showing their relative positions with respect to printing cylinder, and the means for s upporting the gripper members, and a Figure 2 is a detail elevational view taken in the plane of line 2-1-2 of Figure 1.

Thevarious novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that I have disclosed my invention in connection with a printing press cylinder 10 in thegap of which there is mounted an operating shaft ll and a supporting shaft 12. The gripper mechanism proper is mounted on said shafts within the cylinder gap adjacent one edge 13 of the sheet receiving surface 14: of the cylinder.

Heretofore, so far as applicant is aware, only solid gripper padshavebeen provided, and when referring to solid gripper pads such pads as rubber, felt, paper, as well as metal, are included. WVhen solid gripper pads are used, it is necessary to make a very nice adjustment of the gripper fingers which are located at various points along the open- 2 emrrnamncnnmsm.

192e, $eria1No. 101,314.

shaftjso that said gripper iingers my press down upon the sheet with a uniform pressure, Such nicety of ad'ustment not only, requ resan expenditure 0 a great deal of; time,but is ratlier difficult to secure and maintain and also grip the sheetin a manner not to disturb its position on the cylinder,

present invention contemplates overcomlng the requirement of nicetyof adjust-\ ment of the gripper fingers, and at the same time, the gripper mechanism is designed to grip asheet with a uniform pressure and without disturbing the position of the sheet on thecylinder; 1 j j i One embodiment of the invention takes the form. disclosed, on the sheet of drawin 3 wherein the gripper pad 15 is a pivotal y, mounted member, the ivot point 16 preferably, being formed yv a pin extending through the tail 17 of the gripper pad and through adjacent ears 18 formed on the bracket 19, which latter is adjustably secured to the supporting [shaft 12. mThe bracket is provided witha recess 20 for the reception of a coiled sprin gages the lower surface of t e gripper ad and presses the gripper pad outwardly. The outward pivotal movementof the gripper pad 15 is limited by engagementbetween thelower point of the tail 17 and an associated portion of the bracket 19. The gri per finger 22 is adjustably mounted on t e operating shaft 11. ,The'pivotalpoints or centers 16 and,23 of the padmember 15 and the gripper finger22 respectively are aligned with a point 24 on the ripping surfaces of said a gripper members urlng the gripping action whereby said gripping surfaces have practically no relative movement after the sheet is engaged thereby, for the purpose of maintaining the proper position of the sheet,

or, in 0 her words to prevent moving the sheet out of register. j 1

From the arrangement described,it is apparent when the upper gripper member 22 presses down upon a sheet interposed betweensaidupper gripper member 22 and thegripper pad 15, that if said upper gripper member 22 is given an excessive movement due, for example, to a rough adjustment of same on the shaft 11, such will be compensated for by the inward bodily pivotal movement of the gripper pad 15. At

21 which en- 1 the same time, the gripped sheet of paper will be gripped with substantially a uniform. pressure throughout. An adjacent pair of gripper members may have a relative rough adjustment in which the gripper pad may be depressed a lesser or greater amount, the gripping pressure being substantially uniform. Thus it will be seen that if the various gripper fingers 22 distributed along the operating shaft 11 are given a relative rough adjustment as distinguished from a nice adjustment, the gripped sheet nevertheless will be gripped by the various gripper members with a substantially uniform gripping pressure. As

mentioned hereinabove, the gripping sur faces of the gripper pad '15 and the gripper fingers 22 have practically no relative movement at the time a sheet is gripped, due to the pivotal arrangement of said gripper members. Therefore, the position of the gripped sheet is not rhanged, or in other words, does not have its register disturbed.

By means of the arrangement'herein disclosed, the'objects of the invention are accomplished. It is my intentionto cover all modifications of the invention falling within'the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I'claim:

LIn gripper mechanism, the combinationof'a bodily movable gripper pad member, and a cooperating gripper member between which gri per members a sheet may be gri ped, said gripper members being pivotal y mounted on different relatively fixed centers in a manner whereby their gripping surfaces have practically no relatlve movement after the sheet is engaged,

thereby, to maintain the the sheet.

2. In gripper mechanism, the combination proper position of 'ofa bodily movable gripper .pad member, rating gripper member between and a coo which gripper members a sheet may be gripped. said gripper members being pivotally mounted on different centers which surfaces have practically no relative movement after the sheet is engaged thereby, to maintain the proper position of'the sheet.

3. In gripper mechanism, the combination of a support, a pivotally mounted gripper pad member carried by said support, and a cooperating gripper member mounted on a pivotal support fixed relative to thepivot of said gripper pad between which gripper members a sheet may be gripped, said gripper members being arranged in a manner whereby their gripping surfaces have practically no relative movement after the sheet is engaged thereby, to maintain the proper position of the sheet.

4. In a gripper mechanism, a plurality of supporting members, a pivotally mounted gripper pad member carried by oneof said supporting members, and a gripper member pivotally mounted on another of said supporting members, said gripper pad member and gripper member bei arranged in a manner whereby their gripping surfaces have ractically no relative movement after the s eet is engaged thereby, to maintain the proper position of the sheet.

5. In gripper mechanism, a support, a gripper pad member pivotally mounted on said support, a spring carried by said support and pressing said gripper pad member outwardly, means for limiting outward movement of said pad member, and a gripper member pivotally mounted on a separate'support cooperating with said gripper pad member for gripping sheet material.

6. In gripper mechanism, the combination of a drum havin an opening, gripping mechanism in sai opening comprising a support having a recess therein, a gripper pad member pivotally mounted on said support, a spring mounted in said recess for moving said pad member in the gripping direction, means for limiting the outward movement of saidgripperpad member, and a gripper member cooperating with said gripper pad member for gripping sheet material.

7. In gripper mechanism, the combination of a drum having an opening, gripping mechanism in said opening comprising a support having a recess therein, a gripper pad member pivotally mounted on said support, a spring mounted in said recess for moving said pad member in the grippingv direction, and means for limiting movement of said gripper pad member.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 9th day of April, 1926.

JOSEPH R. BLAINE. 

